1 Frs., 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 138 
the preparation of the fibre, however, there are several other good points about 
Ramie cultivation. Besides being perennial, the plant requires absolutely no 
cultivation beyond thinning out (and the thinned-out plants may be at once 
replanted in new ground) after attaining a height of three feet ; the original 
root survives for thirty to forty years; the leaves are greedily eaten by cattle, 
and are highly nutritious; and the best means of propagation are from root 
cuttings. Planters need lay out but little capital on this product, as the stalks 
are marketable without degumming, or additional profits may be realised by 
doing the degumming and fibre-extraction on the estate. Thus, on the lowest 
computation, a return of £18 per acre is certain, with the expenditure of the 
minimum of labour and capital. 
Tf actual results are required, here they are! Upon an estate in Mexico 
the outturn of cleaned fibre, in 1896, was 1,936 tons, and the price obtainable 
in New York was 250 dollars (£25) per ton. The total cost of cultivation 
and laying down in New York, including £5,550 (nearly £3 per ton) for 
carriage and insurance, amounted to 203,007 dollars (Mexican), and the work- 
ing capital was increased to 233,007 dollars by 30,000 dollars expended on 
machinery. After deducting 27,830 dollars for commissions, the net profit 
reached 326,692 dollars, or 145 per cent. on the working capital. Such results 
leaye ample margin for repayment of interest upon cost of land, and actually 
make it possible to repay the purchase money within a very short time, and. 
still have left an estate bringing in a handsome profit, especially in countries 
where land is cheap.—Produce World. 
Forestry. 
TESTS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIAN TIMBERS. 
(From Practical Engineer, 18th November, 1898.) 
Some interesting tests of the three principal Western Australian timbers— 
jarrah, karri, and red gum—have been recently carried out by Mr. W. H. 
Warren, M.I.C.E,, Professor of Engineering at the University of Sydney, 
with a view to showing their physical properties for application in engineering 
and building construction, with the following results :— ‘ 
Name of Wood. Jarrah, | Jarrah. Karri. | Red Gum, 
= Pa es | ee Pn Op +i | Sn ES 
; i Ib. Ib. elias ay 
Weight of specimens, per cubic foot ui Fest pes 56'2 67'S SFY 66°2 
Ultimate tensile strength, per square inch— | | 
Specimen A. " ax AM B9 x.t8 ) 18,026 11,672 13,920 | 22,725 
4 ais oon cate aedh IEEE || ieakire ed es 
ba a i 
Compressive strength, breaking load, per square inch— | 
Specimen A 5,880 | 7,880} 6,251 |- 6,174 
‘, +i) ae} 6080) 7,559 |. 8,018 | 5,679 
Transverse * strength, modulus of rupture, per square im - we ra 
inch— ‘ | | 
Specimen A... ae B of as ..| 14,125 | 15,775 9,946 | 11,728 
4) 1 4h, — tea re if .. | 12,060 | 16,625 9,387 | 18,975 
C .. | 12,687} 14,500 | 11,117 | 6,515 
Shearing strength, breaking load, per square inch— 
Specimen A Ay sO cA fA - 
”? 
” CG 
1,847 1,911 1,401 , 1,592 
1,783 1,973 1,370) 1,521 
